Journal Article

FZJ-2026-02090

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Zero- to ultralow-field J-spectroscopy with a diamond magnetometer

Omar, M. (Corresponding author) ; Xu, J. (Corresponding author) ; Kircher, R. (Corresponding author) ; Sharbati, P. ; Zhang, S. ; Chatzidrosos, G. ; Eills, J.FZJ* ; Picazo-Frutos, R. ; Budker, D. (Corresponding author) ; Barskiy, D. A. (Corresponding author) ; Wickenbrock, A. (Corresponding author)

2026
Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature [London]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01962-3  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-02090

Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful tool for probing molecular structure and dynamics, but conventional high-field systems are bulky and suffer from field inhomogeneities. Zero- to ultralow-field (ZULF) NMR overcomes these limits by exploiting internal spin interactions in a magnet-free, shielded environment. When combined with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, it enables a compact, portable platformwith high spatial resolution and broad bandwidth for noninvasive chemical sensing in microscopic volumes and real-world settings. We report detection of zero- to ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance (ZULF NMR) signals at frequencies of a few hertz using a diamond magnetometer. The sensing diamond is a truncated pyramid with 180 μmheight and a 5002 μm2 base. The minimum stand-off distance is <1 mm, and the sensor sensitivity is 13 pT/pffiHffiffiffizffiffi at frequencies f above 5 Hz with 1/f-like behavior at lower frequencies. NMR signals were generated via signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) parahydrogen-based hyperpolarization resulting in zero-field signals at 1.7 Hz and 3.4 Hz corresponding to the expected hetero-nuclear J-coupling pattern of acetonitrile. This work demonstrates a magnet-free platform for detecting chemically specific NMR signals paving the way for portable noninvasive diagnostics in microscopic sample volumes for biomedicine, industrial sensing through metal enclosures.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Strukturbiochemie (IBI-7)

Research Program(s):

1. 5241 - Molecular Information Processing in Cellular Systems (POF4-524) (POF4-524)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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